Deck

[5]In the wake of a new federal law that aims to make credit card issuers more accountable, companies continue to seek ways to squeeze higher profits from their borrowers, warn experts interviewed by The Denver Post[6], which points to a looming deadline that will prohibit banks from automatically charging overdraft fees to customers.
Take the case of borrowers who have two or more interest rates for loans under one account. Under new federal rules, card issuers apply payments in excess of the monthly minimum to balances with the highest interest rate first.
But what about consumers who pay only the minimum? In some cases, the minimum payment goes to the lower rate balance, which experts say is a bad deal for consumers.
"That could be a difference of paying off a balance in 12 years instead of three or four," says Ken Lin, chief executive of CreditKarma.com.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Mark Udall (pictured) is asking his colleagues to give final approval to the Wall Street Accountability bill, which contains his provision to allow consumers free access to their credit scores. Under the proposal, consumers who are turned down for a loan or purchase, receive a higher interest rate on a loan, or are given unfavorable terms on a credit card would receive automatic disclosure of their credit score free of charge, writes The Denver Daily News[7].